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Helpful facts for high school seniors considering pre-med.
So you want to be a doctor? Wherever you go, you'll have to take a year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and, for some medical schools, calculus. That said, must you major in those subjects? No! To quote Glenn C. Altschuler's August 4, 2002 article in The New York Times:
Data collected by the association of medical colleges demonstrates that there is no meaningful correlation between a major and the likelihood of admissions. Of the applicants to medical school in 2000, a letter of acceptance went to 44.9 percent of applicants majoring in the biological sciences, 50.9 percent in the physical sciences, and 50.5 percent in non-science subjects.
"In my years of medical school admissions work," says David Owen, health professions adviser at the University of Chicago, "never once have I witnessed an applicant's major be influential in a decision for admission." Pre-med science courses are all the preparation that is needed for the science portion of the MCATs- science majors do not post higher scores than Shakespeare specialists.
Medical schools encourage undergraduate students to major in subjects they like most and are best at. Interest in what is being learned enhances performance. Medical schools, Mr. Owens adds, favor applicants who can analyze moral, ethical, and cultural issues with the same facility they bring to scientific problems.
So why do we mention this on our website? Because you should follow all your passions in selecting a college. Yes, the above mentioned requisite courses must be offered, and certainly a more challenging college academically will be a strong plus, but that said, there is a whole range of colleges and universities that might be more appropriate for you. Just thought you should know.

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